Page 18 of The Major's Mistake
Miranda’s eyes dropped to the carpet. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that I questioned his integrity,” she stammered. “It’s just that it is still all so very … confusing.”
“I know it is. But for Justin’s sake, you and Julian are going to have to figure out a way to put aside the hurt and resentment of the past and deal with the present—and the future.”
Miranda gave a heavy sigh. “I shall try.”
But her face betrayed what she really thought about the chances of that ever happening.
This time,the tear was a bit bigger. “Damnation,” muttered Miranda rather loudly as she struggled to disengage the bramble from the thin material of her gown.
A chuckle came from behind the hedgerow. She whipped around to find a man of average height and wiry build already out of his saddle and coming towards her. “Perhaps I may be of some assistance.”
She shrunk back.
His keen hazel eyes seemed to catch the slight movement. He stopped. “You needn’t have any fear on my account. I simply mean to help.” With that assurance, he continued on and knelt down by her side. Miranda couldn’t help but notice that though his fingers were thick and scarred, their touch was surprisingly gentle. He had her free in a matter of moments.
“Is that yours?” He was pointing to the large willow basket filled with roots and cuttings that she had dropped amid the tangle of thorns. She nodded and he reached over to extricate it as well. Taking her arm, he helped her back to the well-worn cart path.
Miranda smoothed at he skirts of her worn gown in some embarrassment.
He seemed to sense the source of her discomfiture. “Briar patches are devilish things—and being stuck like that has brought out far worse language from me, I assure you, ma’am,” he said with a grin.
Her lips gave a twitch despite her resolve to keep her distance. “That is very gentlemanly of you to say,” she murmured
He laughed. “Well, I certainly ain’t no gentleman, as you can see, but I appreciate the sentiment.” He held out his hand. “The name is Sykes. William Sykes.”
She hesitated a fraction before taking it. “How do you do, Mr. Sykes.”
He looked at her expectantly.
“I am Mrs. Ransford,” she added with obvious reluctance.
Sykes tipped his cap. “A pleasure, Mrs. Ransford.” He made no effort to return her basket. “Perhaps I might carry this for a way—it’s a mite too heavy for a slip of a female like yourself to wrestle with.”
Miranda’s mouth compressed. “I’m quite used to it, you may be sure, sir. Besides, I shouldn’t want to take up any more of your time than I already have.” She hoped the iciness of her tone would put a damper on any further offers of help. But far from discouraging the man, her reply only elicited another grin.
“Oh, no trouble at all. I’m at loose ends this afternoon and would be happy to oblige. I’ll just fetch my horse and walk with you for a bit .” Before she could raise any further objection, he had already wrapped the reins of the big animal around one hand and fallen in step at her side. “Now which way are you headed?”
She indicated the path to the right.
“Do you live near here?” he inquired as they began to walk along the path.
“Not far.”
Sykes cleared his throat as it became clear that conversation was not going to be an easy thing. “Does your husband have a farm or?—”
“I live with my aunt,” she said rather sharply. “And my son,” she added pointedly, as if that might discourage his interest.
One eyebrow came up in question, but he forbore to press the topic as it was obviously one which she wished to avoid. An awkward silence stretched over some minutes.
Finally Miranda spoke up. “Forgive me. I don’t mean to be rude, Mr. Sykes, but I‘m afraid I’m simply not very sociable. I prefer to … keep to myself.”
“I don’t mean to trespass where I’m not wanted, ma’am,” he answered quietly. “It’s simply that, well, I’m new in the area, and I thought I might make some acquaintance of my neighbors.”
She looked down at her scuffed half boots, feeling rather churlish. Perhaps a bit of conversation was not too much to ask. He did not appear to be like most men, trying to press his attentions on her in the most obvious of ways.
A sigh escaped her lips.” Well, I fear I shall be able to give you precious little in the way of information as we have only recently come into the area.”
“Where did you live before, that is, if I am not prying?”
